New Poem – such things…

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Such things happen.

And, for a time,

Under their shrivelled cowl

There’s little else we can do.

 

Never sadder or more downcast

Than when bereaved, deserted,

Damaged, neglected.

 

And however deep we delve

For speedy comfort,

For reassurance

That we cannot help but yearn for,

When random tragedy

Or the cold cruelty of others

Tarnish the day,

There can be none.

 

Unless you possess

The zinc heart of a zealot,

Born of the brutalities of others,

There are answers though.

Despite the awful hazards

That, in living,

We have no choice but to embrace.

 

How unspeakably sad that

However pure, however cherished

And safe in times past,

Something, anything, anyone

Still here with us

Can still be spoilt and ruined so,

When left prey to circumstance

And the callous whims

Of those already lost in the darkness.

 

Legacy though,

Like the light of love

In any infant’s eye,

Remains impervious

To any such violation,

Seeding aspirations that live on.

 

Inspiration to rise above

A mass of malignant possibilities

And, in so doing, remind each other of

Just what the human spirit is capable of.

 

There may well be times in your life

When you lose sight of your soul.

But, trust me, it can always see you…

 

A hallowed frequency within

That, even in your darkest hour,

You can always turn to.

Knowing that,

When the tortures of self doubt

And the bitterest of all tears

Are in your eyes,

This choice remains forever yours.

66 Comments

  1. This poem is sad but an effort to go through these difficult times. Thank you for sharing.

  2. I enjoy reading your poetry, Scott. This is beautiful, touching.

    • Brian E. Wakeman

      Yes, I agree,

      There is a wistful, reflective quality….. The reader is hushed as we are invited into your expressions , there is a pause in space as we allow the words to work their magic.

      Brian E. WAKEMAN
      author of Knowing Through Poetic Reflection

  3. Scott:

    Your writing absolutely contains “this light of love”, and therefore your Poetry becomes your Legacy, “seeding the aspirations” of those who read your work. Giving us the choice, the urge, to rely on the spirit within us.

    Richard Havenga

  4. Roman Long-Gonzalez

    Scott, what a cherished poem this is. I appreciate the honest tone. What a genuine gift you have!

  5. A very powerful message lays within this poem. One that is often forgotten while in the mists of pain and sorrow. Your poem reminds us of our own strength we must go back to.

  6. This poem touched my heart and my soul. I truly can relate.

    sending love across the ocean.
    Pat

  7. Laura Bailey

    Thank you Scott for your inspirational poem. As we all do face the long, dark nights of the soul it is always encouraging to know that, no matter what, we will pull through to face the challenges of another day. Peace to you my friend!

  8. Bonnie Roberts

    I always enjoy reading your poems, new and old! I can also become entranced just looking at your site!

    Bonnie 🙂

  9. Laura Laveglia

    Hi Scott,

    Hope all is well with you! Your poem is quite sad, but beautiful at the same time. Life is tough, but does give us moments of joy and that is what we must hold tight to!

    My best regards to you,
    Love Laura

  10. Scott, this poem especially touched me, since I lost my 14-yr-old daughter, Noelle, years ago in a vehicular homicide by a drunk driver. Your words, so beautifully said, spoke straight to my heart and soul.

  11. Edward Wilkes

    In life we have our ups and downs; I agree.
    In life we can find our way and we can overcome the worst of things.
    We can also become consumed by others, of good or bad; either of which we at times allow to take the focus off our own self. And yes even in our darkest hour we always have our own self to turn to when there is no other. Our own self usually turns out to be our own best bet. Self doubt to me is that voice in my head that seems to be there from time to time to disrupt my dreams from moving forward. This voice is a voice of defeat (Self-Defeat)but this voice, I have learned to tune out and tune into the voice of reason, where self reliance takes over. Very good piece, my poet friend. I’m glad I took the time to read this.

  12. This is a beautiful poem…nice ending!

  13. Professor Ram Krishna Singh

    Thanks Scott for sharing your poem and gallery. Your multifaceted genius is visible from your work. Great.

  14. A poem that all of us who live consciously can relate to… let sadness take but a moment of your time and allow happiness to pervade in the next and the next.

    Warmly,
    Michele

  15. Scott, very powerful writing and applicable to so many events–both those outside us and those within. It’s easy to see the care you take in crafting your poetry.

  16. Scott, this exquisite poem fills my mind, heart and soul right now. Awake at this hour, looking for a pillow of comfort, understanding, and here it is! Bless you for your gift and for your insight. :)) xoxo ~jackie~

  17. Nivedita Yohana

    Wooow!! Scott… what depth! Your words moved me to tears.. You are blessed with a talent to touch people’s soul.

  18. Jacquéline Touche

    You are doing a tremendous Job, Scott. Keep Touching One Heart at a time and Uplifting Souls including mine. Be Blessed and continue to have a Great Summer.

  19. Scott, this poem is precisely what I need at my present juncture. Besides its literary qualities, which of course do not surprise me, besides the elegant turn of phrase and delicate passage from the black depths of the soul to the illuminating reminder that “this choice remains forever yours,” it talks to me in a prophetic way, as if you knew what you cannot possibly know. Thank you, my dear friend, for this beacon of hope.

  20. Scott…

    Well, I said I would visit, so I did. I have a passion for poetry, so the effort was not as altruistic as yours…again, I thank you.

    WOW! This is so powerful, yet comforting in a subtle way. This passage is where I was as a child, though not old enough, or wise enough to recognize it as such…

    “There may well be times in your life

    When you lose sight of your soul.

    But, trust me, it can always see you…

    A hallowed frequency within

    That, even in your darkest hour,

    You can always turn to.

    Knowing that,

    When the tortures of self doubt

    And the bitterest of all tears

    Are in your eyes,

    This choice remains forever yours.”

    The choice to claw my way out of the darkness, or be ruined forever.

    Thank you for sharing your gift with me. I has made me FEEL. Bravo my new friend.

    ~Taylor Fulks

  21. Mahnaz Mohafez

    You always write beautiful poems. Thank you very much for sharing them with us!

  22. Very Beautiful!
    Scott,
    You positively have a follower.
    Thank you, Cindy

  23. So true that though we may lose sight of our soul, our soul can always see us. And, I believe, help us find our way.

  24. “There may well be times in your life
    When you lose sight of your soul.
    But, trust me, it can always see you…”

    Absolutely love those lines. There’s so much truth in this. Sometimes time is the only thing that heals. Well done, Scott.

  25. Inspiring beautiful words of hope – we can overcome our dark days…
    Anna :o]

  26. Maria

    Wow… this one touched me. very beautiful.

  27. The part that really grabbed me in this Scott is in the middle somewhere how everything can be spoilt when left to the those already lost… The lines on losing sight of the soul but it seeing you are great as well… Very nicely done sir…

    • Nice Scott…well worth another look…This time it was the losing sight of your own soul and how even then it does not lose sight of you…

  28. Strong and yet delicate piece Scott. Yes, it’s true, our choices are forever ours.

  29. I like that light of love ~ Meaningful verse Scott ~ Thank you for sharing your words ~

  30. Marousia

    Nicely done! As the Greeks say to each other at wakes “Live”

  31. Scott, beautiful and inspirational piece. I want to print this and put it up in my classroom. So many things get lost along this path in life, that we can see still vivid in the eyes of the young. Thanks for this.

    Pamela

  32. Yes, I agree, it can always see you… how easily we forget that at times.

  33. Powerful and touching !

  34. Scott, congratulations for the beautiful poem you posted on your website. One of my friends always taught us a quote : “Expect the unexpected”. And the poem totally details the meaning of that quote. We should always be prepared to the unexpected at any time of our lives, because life is like a circus made with too many unexpected things, which may be as well positive as well negative. I myself faced so much good and bad surprises in life for enough being aware of that.

  35. Gilda Evans

    Lovely poem, Scott! We have all fought our own demons, and I agree – the choice is always ours as to how we respond to these situations. Bravo!

  36. Reassuring words that we can all turn to at times.

  37. Humanity is unfaithful to humanity.
    Excellent summary and truth.
    The photography is also an excellent
    companion to your work.

    • Vinita Agrawal

      A beautiful gentle poem that splits apart the curtains of desolation to show that no matter how great the pain, human spirit prevails and triumphs over all odds. Your poem had o many high points Scott, but I particularly adored these lines:

      Legacy though,
      Like the light of love
      In any infant’s eye,
      Remains impervious
      To any such violation,
      Seeding aspirations that live on.
      **
      A really lovely write that acts like a balm on tortured senses, that brings succour to ravaged hearts and quite simple speaks of better days and better choices in times when the spirit is broken and sad. Loved it!

  38. This was deeply inspired and inspirational Scott, each stanza wonderfully crafted and well-positioned.

  39. Wendy Waters

    I love this ….

    “There may well be times in your life

    When you lose sight of your soul.

    But, trust me, it can always see you…”

  40. Sushmita Sadhu

    Your new poem Such Things is lovely!

    “When the tortures of self doubt
    And the bitterest of all tears

    Are in your eyes,

    This choice remains forever yours.”

    I liked these lines in particular.

  41. Milan Schmotzer

    Gloomy poem, but truthful. A person can carry the good in its heart, whether as a ardent zealot (zinc is hard but yielding) or meek, calm and humble of heart.

  42. A wonderful poem, dear Scott. It has its depth. Sometimes life is very difficult. Soul lost in the darkness, which would like to return and they cannot do so. And shining souls filled with celestial love.

  43. Dr Jelka Samsom

    Very, very comforting, Scott, just like many others have said before me. Thank you!

  44. Excellent thoughts for morality and courage. Shows how human endeavors require an undying attitude to sustain life.

  45. Neena Sharma

    “Sir, no matter how shrivelled ,shattered ,dejected and despondent one is, one could always turn towards one’s innerself….wherein lies the hidden pure divine traits of our soul: viz peace, love, bliss, knowledge, purity, power and eternal happiness. Are we alien to our own immortal souls ?? No..then, why despair and dismay..?! Very moving poem…full of pain anguish and poignancy. A resplendent poetry collection ,as always.. God Bless. With best of regards- Neena Sharma”

  46. Panchali

    Scott, My first time in your space and I am completely bowled over by this poem! What a moving piece…Poignant and powerful at the same time!

  47. I loved your poetry which is gentle and flows soothingly, even on such a subject. Even more so, I loved the thought behind your blog which is beautiful and makes it easy for us to visit and experience.

  48. Jen Robinson

    Scott,

    You are a wonderful writer and your reflections are magnificent. I appreciate your wording and insight. Thank you

  49. I enjoyed reading this. love the closing lines, so optimistic.

  50. I truly enjoyed your wonderful words of wisdom! Thank you Scott!
    Dori

  51. Nivedita Yohana

    Your poem is just so amazing and the image is heaven on earth and is mind blowing. You are truly an erudite poet. Your words carry lot of wisdom. It touches the heart and makes us go through what you have gone through. Its poignant and some lines are so painful even to acknowledge it. Hats off! Scott. You are amazing!

  52. Pat Bodo

    Great piece,Scott. The poem holds an appeal like your other works. I think you are one of those few writers whose individuality shows in their choice of subject, in their diction and metre and in their imagery.

  53. Charlene Redick

    Wonderful Scott. Lovely imagery!
    All the best, Charlene

  54. There may well be times in your life

    When you lose sight of your soul.

    But, trust me, it can always see you…… That really hit me..think we all have such times…and good to know that there still is connection, even if we think there isn’t..

  55. Scott, thanks for posting this for dVerse today. I do think it fits the theme of peace well. Despite all that is going on in the world, we DO need to find a way to ‘rise above’

    Inspiration to rise above
    A mass of malignant possibilities
    And, in so doing, remind each other of
    Just what the human spirit is capable of

    and to see what IS possible in the trying. We won’t know unless we ‘give it our best shot’ and see what can be accomplished. I liked your last line. Yes, the choice is always ours. We each have to decide our direction & live with our choice.

  56. Hi Scott,

    I missed this first time around, so thanks for bringing it back to dVerse. Just as evil triumphs when good people do nothing, so peace is destroyed when we leave everything in the hand of those who only want to destroy it.

    Really enjoyed reading your work.

  57. This is perfect words singing in my head… love the end.. we have the choice. very important.

  58. This strike a chord in me right now, Scott. Remembering the power of choice, the way we can change our own attitudes…that is a freedom no one can take from us.

  59. Inspiration to rise above

    A mass of malignant possibilities

    And, in so doing, remind each other of

    Just what the human spirit is capable of.

    Beautiful.

  60. I enjoyed this second reading, thanks ~

  61. There may well be times in your life // When you lose sight of your soul. // But, trust me, it can always see you…

    That’s a comforting thought. A beautifully sad poem, it spoke to me.

  62. Scott,
    As i think i expressed before, your work is often a refuge; an oasis. This poem underscores that. In so many ways, you ‘get’ and embrace the human condition. Thank you.
    sondra kelly-green

  63. Sonia Limm

    An eloquent writer who connects with your inner soul. Through pain and anguish may there be eternal hope. Thank you for opening up your work to us.

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